Classic Southern Potato Salad
This classic Southern-style red potato salad has been part of our menu for as long as I can remember. My mother made it, and her mother before that. It really is at almost every family get together, church dinner, backyard cookouts, summer bash, or picnic.
Tender red potatoes, creamy mayonnaise, crisp celery and onion, fresh dill, and perfectly cooked eggs come together in a timeless recipe that becomes even better after the flavors have had time to marry.
Cooking the whole potatoes in generously salted water allows them to absorb flavor from the inside out while helping them keep their shape. I guess, I found this out by accident, as one year we heavily salted the cooking water (2-3 tablespoons!) for the new potatoes, and voila, it was delicious! The potatoes are cooled, then folded with the remaining ingredients to create a rich, creamy potato salad that is hearty enough for a crowd and that just-right craving to become a family tradition. We love this potato salad especially in the summer for grilling and picnics.
Be sure and always make a huge bowl of homemade potato salad, it is perfect with smoked brisket, ribs, or fresh seafood.
It is one of those dishes that makes us all squabble and fight over second helpings as we visit long after the meal has ended. Potato salad has long been a favorite at any family meal where recipes are shared from one generation to the next.
It is simple to make, travels well, and always seems to disappear before other side dishes, it is that good! I’ve often wondered if it is the salted potatoes, slow cooked whole, or the delicious and crispy veggies-fall onions out of the garden, shallots, celery, creamy mayo, or even the punch that the mustard gives. Not sure, but it is a favorite that everyone always looks for.
Holiday get togethers, especially Memorial Day, the Fourth of July, and Labor Day are all wonderful occasions for this classic recipe. It is mouthwatering with glazed ham, fried chicken, grilled steaks, smoked sausage, and any kind of barbecue.
This special potato salad, or one your family loves, always brings people together to share a lovely meal for laughter, storytelling, and delightful memories that last a lifetime. Enjoy this treasured recipe, it is for you, with love!
Classic Southern Red Potato Salad Recipe
Description: This very southern classic red potato salad is the best potato salad you will ever eat, hands down! It is rich, smooth, creamy, and crunchy, with delightful salted red potatoes. Its just-right savory taste will have everybody coming back for more! It has been known to disappear by the tubful, so watch it!
Ingredients:
• 8 large red potatoes
• 4–5 hard-boiled eggs, chopped
• 2 ½ cups mayonnaise
• 2 celery stalks, finely diced
• 1 small onion, finely diced
• ½ cup dill pickle relish
• 1–2 tablespoons yellow mustard
• 1½ teaspoons kosher salt, plus extra for boiling (2-3 tablespoons in water)
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 teaspoon paprika for the top at serving (optional)
Directions:
1. Place the whole potatoes in a Dutch oven and cover with cold water. Generously salt the water, (2-3 tablespoons of salt) cover with a lid, and bring to a boil.
2. Reduce to a gentle simmer and cook 20–30 minutes until fork tender.
3. Drain and let the potatoes cool completely. They do not have to be refrigerator cold.
4. Cut the potatoes into bite-size pieces.
5. Combine the mayonnaise, mustard, dill relish, salt, pepper, and celery in a large bowl.
6. Fold in the potatoes, celery, onion, and chopped eggs until evenly coated. Add additional mayonnaise if desired.
7. Cover and refrigerate for at least one hour before serving.
Serve with grilled hamburgers, barbecue brisket, ribs, smoked sausage, grilled chicken, fried chicken, fried or grilled shrimp, catfish, baked beans, watermelon, fresh fruit, sliced tomatoes, deviled eggs, sweet tea, lemonade, or a crisp white wine.
Prep Time: 30 minutes Cook Time: 25–30 minutes Chill Time: 1 hour (if desired) Total Time: About 2 hours Servings: 10–12
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